A familiar tableau that most of us have witnessed is when we see two women friends meeting after a gap of few months – they squeal in delight, hug each other warmly and for the next several hours become inseparable while talking nonstop in a continuous chatter that is often laced with generous compliments.
However, there is one other scenario – of two men friends meeting up after a substantial span of time. Here, they immediately slap one another on the shoulder and follow it up by just standing and grinning happily for a few moments. And then (very astonishing for the other gender to understand) in the most affectionate of tones, they start insulting each other!
Believe me, this is true, because the females of the species demonstrate love towards others in their tribe, with sweet words. And males, with sour ones. Well, the polite term to use here is ‘roasting’.
So, what exactly is roasting? Roasting is a form of humour that involves making fun of someone in a playful and witty manner. It is a verbal exchange where both parties engage in teasing insults that are intended to be humorous rather than hurtful and is often used as a way to bond and build camaraderie.
Roasting is not meant to be taken seriously as it is supposedly a sign of affection. When a guy roasts you, it may mean that he likes you and feels comfortable enough to engage in playful banter with you. It can also be a sign of respect, as roasting is often reserved for those who are considered equals or friends.
Right! For a long time, I could not make sense of it and would be horrified with this kind of behaviour. Especially between my spouse and his best buddy. These two gentlemen were extremely close, or that is what I was made to understand. They had a shared childhood, went to the same school, college and got in and out of innumerable scrapes together. From drinking binges to motorcycle races, there was hardly any escapade they had not done jointly.
I was told in great detail about their college election campaign and the crazy party that was organised after the win – where they got drunk on cheap alcohol and were laid up in bed for a week afterwards. The double dates, the mountain climbing fiascos, the cigarette smoking experiments, the party crashing episodes, everything was related to me in bits and pieces.
Having heard so much about him in absentia, I wanted to meet in person, but he had relocated to America meanwhile, so I had to wait till we made a trip to that part of the world. My husband wanted to surprise him, therefore, he did not call his friend till we touched down in San Francisco.
But shockingly, he refused to meet us. He was very busy and could not find the time to come all the way to our hotel, we were told. My spouse muttered under his breath and hailed a taxi immediately. Before long, we were at his doorstep.
“Hey Man! You made it!” his friend grinned, slapping him on the shoulder.
“Sure! But when did you become bald?” my husband smiled.
“When you got a paunch Fatty”, he laughed.
“Who is Fatty”, I wanted to know.
“Let me tell you”, his friend caught hold of my arm.
“Don’t believe anything the loser says”, my spouse interrupted.
“Everything about this scoundrel”, his friend twinkled.
By Nickunj Malik
|| features@portugalresident.com
Nickunj Malik’s journalistic career began when she walked into the office of Khaleej Times newspaper in Dubai thirty-one years ago and got the job. Since then, her articles have appeared in various newspapers all over the world. She now resides in Portugal and is married to a banker who loves numbers more than words.
